Children's Hospice South West volunteer works even when on holiday

A pensioner loves his job volunteering at a children's hospice so much that he even does it on holiday.

Dave Senior, 81, is a "key member" of the volunteering team at Children's Hospice South West's (CHSW) Charlton Farm in Bristol.

He carries out a myriad of jobs each week - from sweeping leaves to mending fences.

Charlton Farm site manager Lawrence Gingell said without volunteers like Mr Senior, tasks would harder to do.

"Dave's enthusiasm is infectious and he's an important part of our team," Mr Gingell said.

Mr Senior, from Yate, said he first heard about the work of CHSW while helping at a scouts and cubs gang show at the Bristol Hippodrome, where there was a collection for the charity during the interval.

He said he was inspired to help after hearing CHSW co-founder, the late Jill Farwell, talk to the audience about the work of the charity.

While working as a parts delivery driver, railway enthusiast Mr Senior also discovered Charlton Farm in Wraxall, which opened in 2007, was on his route - so he popped in to offer his services as a volunteer.

On the day he officially retired in March 2008, he started at Charlton Farm.

"The worst job is clearing the site of snow and the best job is doing the water checks - the reason being I meet a lot of the staff, and going to the hospice is where I get my 'fix'," said Mr Senior.

"That is what makes it so rewarding."

Mr Senior continues volunteering even while on holiday, and during his five-day stays with his Cornish family helps out at Little Harbour, Charlton Farm's sister site in St Austell, for three-and-a-half days.

"I like to keep busy and I love my work at the hospice. To be able to do it in a place just minutes away from where I enjoyed so many holidays as a child is just marvellous."

Dave added that one way he measures whether he's done a good job is by the size of the cake he is offered.

"If I get a big slice of cake I have obviously worked hard and earned it," he laughed.

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